Cole Christian - Men's Basketball Coach - University of Akron Athletics

Cole Christian

Title:
Video Coordinator
Email:
cchristian@uakron.edu
Phone:
(330) 972-7781

Cole Christian was promoted to Director of Basketball Operations and Analytics in September 2021 after serving as the team’s video coordinator since June. Christian will manage team travel, video, and day-to-day operations of the program. He will also serve as liaison to all outside entities for the program.

Christian served three seasons as a graduate assistant under former Iowa State head coach Steve Prohm from 2018-2021. Christian assisted the staff with video operations, scouting, and player development. He also served as director of Steve Prohm Basketball Camps. During his tenure with the Cyclones, he helped to develop three NBA draft picks: Tyrese Haliburton (12^th-Sacramento), Talen Horton-Tucker (46^th-Los Angeles Lakers), and Marial Shayok (54^th-Philadelphia).

In Christian's first season with Iowa State, the Cyclones went 23-12 and made the NCAA Tournament after winning the Big 12 Tournament. The Cyclones were ninth nationally in adjusted offense, leading the Big 12 in scoring offense (76.9) and field goal percentage (47.6), while also ranking among the league leaders in 3-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage.

ISU defeated six ranked opponents during the season and had four players earn All-Big 12 honors. Marial Shayok led the way, earning a spot on the league's first team and later being named an All-American.

In 2019-20, ISU had a pair of players named All-Big 12, while five earned Academic All-Big 12 honors from the league. Tyrese Haliburton was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award prior to suffering a season-ending injury in February.

Christian served as director of basketball operations at UT Martin during the 2017-18 season. His responsibilities included coordinating all team travel including meals, transportation and hotel accommodations. He also supervised all academic requirements for the Skyhawk men’s basketball team, which posted a program-record 3.08 grade point average during the spring 2018 semester.

The Corydon, Iowa native was a two-year manager for Iowa State as a student, assisting the coaching staff in practice preparation as well as video editing and opponent scouts. During his stint as a manager, ISU went 47-23, won the 2017 Big 12 Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament twice, including a trip to the 2016 Sweet 16.

Christian graduated from Iowa State in 2017 with a bachelor of science in marketing. He also graduated from Iowa State with a master’s degree in youth development in the spring of 2020.